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7 TYPE WRITING MACHINE CLEANING DBVIOBQ No. 556,116. Pafce'nted Mar. 10, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE. I

FRED VAN FLEET, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO GEORGE E. GRAFF, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRlTlNG-MACHINE CLEANING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,116, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed J'une 2 '7, 1 8 94.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED VAN FLEET, a citizen of the United States, residing at hvilliams port, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Cleaning Devices for Type-Writers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automaticallyoperated brushes or type-cleaners for typewriting machines; and its chief object is to provide for satisfactorily cleaning the type in successionand not all together, the latter plan being that adopted in the patent of Fred Van Fleet and George Erieg Graft, No. 425,589. To this end I combine with the brush or cleaner means for sweeping it around the type-basket and additional devices for striking it against the type, both the rotating and striking mechanism being operated by the space-bar or some other part of the moving mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of. the devices embodying my invention, the type-basket being shown in section and the space-bar broken away. Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same. Fig. 3 represents a detail perspective view of the sleeve, ratchet-wheel, pawl-slotted spindle, and the pin connecting the said sleeve and spindle; and Fig. 4: represents a similar view, enlarged, of the adjustable devices connecting the space-bar and lever.

A designates the types carried by type-bars A arranged in the usual manner to form a type-basket.

B designates the brush or cleaner, which strikes against the faces of the type individ ually or two or three together, it being connected by a hinge or pivot 12 to its supportingarm 0 to allow the stroke to be given with precision, the brush' striking the ends of its bristles into the type-face. This supportingarm is preferably bent, as shown, to facilitate the said action. It is also pivoted near its rear end to a rigid horizontal arm D and provided with downwardlyextending pins or studs 0 0 one on each side of this pivotal Serial No. 515,827. (No model.)

point. A ring E is arranged below the said arm and so as to be straddled by the said studs when the brush is in operative position.

This ring remains stationary and is attached basket, and is provided with a longitudinal slot g A pin or screw it passes through the hub of the ratchet-wheel I and sleeve F into the said slot, thus causing the said spindlesleeve and ratchet-wheel to rotate all together. This sleeve is provided with a ratchet-wheel I just above the said hub, and the rigid arm D is attached to the said spindle preferably, as shown, by a screw d, which passes through a collar D formed on the inner end of the said arm and encircling the said spindle. A retaining-pawli engages the said ratchet-wheel to prevent backward motion.

The said ratchet-wheel is fed by an arm or long pawl J, which is pivotally connected to the upper end of a rigid arm K rising from the actuating-lever L above its pivot Z. One end of this lever engages a grooved collar L fast on the aforesaid spindle. The other end of the said lever is provided with an eye L which receives a hook m, that is screw-threaded at its lower end to engage a yoke or strap M, which strap receives or is attached to the space-bar N of the machine. These screwthreaded parts m and M taken together make an adjustable connection between the said lever and the space-bar. A retracting-spring 0 extends from the rigid arm K to the hub g. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 indicate the normal position of the brush-lever and other parts. When the said space-bar is depressed in the act of spacing or for other purposes, the said lever'is lowered thereby into the position shown in Fig. 1 in full lines, and the other end of the said lever is thus caused to slide upward the spindle H in the endwise motionless sleeve F,while the action of feeding-arm J on ratchetwheel I, by means of pin h, turns the said spindle with the said ratchet-wheel in a step-bystep motion. The upward movement of the said spindle, carrying with it the collar D,

ICC

the rigid arm D, and the brush-supporting stud G, the arm 0 on the inner or lower end of the latter arm comes into contact with the fixed ring E, and this contact results in throwing the said brush-supporting arm and its brush into the position for action shown in full lines in Fig. 1. At the same time the said brush is carried around far enough to strike another type, or more than one, according to size and arrangement. \Vhen the pressure of the operators hand is withdrawn from the said space-bar, the spring 0 is left free too perat-e and moves the said pawl or feeding-arm J into position for engaging the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel, and also causes the said lever to rock into its first or normal position, bringing down also the spindle H and cansing the pin C of arm C to strike against the top of the ring E, so as to be thrown back into its first position. Thus by these devices the said brush will be swept around the circle of the type-basket and caused to strike its bristles into the faces of the types successively, these actions being effected automaticallythat is to say, as incidental to the ordinary operation of the machine and without requiring any motion of the operator other than what is called for by such normal operation. The act of spacing effects incidentally the cleaning of a type or of several types.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A type-cleaning device, in combination with means, independent of the type, for moving it around the type-basket, devices for causing it to strike individually and successively on the types thereof, and a moving part of the machine which is connected to the aforesaid means and devices and actuates them in the normal operation of the machine substantially as set forth.

2. A type-cleaning device in combination with means for movingit regularly in a step by-step motion around the type-basket, devices for causing it to strike individually and successively on the types thereof, and a moving part of the machine which is connected to the aforesaid means and devices and actuates them in the normal operation of the machine substantially as set forth.

3. A typeeleaning brush, in combination with a supporting-arm to which it is pivoted, a spindle to an attachment of which the said arm is pivotally fastened, means for raising and lowering and means for rotating the said spindle, operated by the space-bar of the machine, and connected therewith.

at. A type-cleaning brush and its supporting-arm having a pair of pins or studs arranged one on each side of its pivot, in combination with a fixed ring arranged between said studs so as to be struck by one of them when the supporting-arm is carried up and by the other of them when the said arm is carried down throwing the said supporting-arm and brush alternately into the two positions shown, a spindle to an attachment of which the said supporting-arm is pivoted, the spacebar of the machine, and devices making connection between the said space-bar and the said spindle, whereby the movement of the said bar in spacing will raise the said spindle substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with a type cleaning brush and its supporting-arm, a spindle, to an attachment of which the said arm is pivoted, a fixed device arranged to be struck by the said arm as the latter ascends and descends and thereby thrown into or out of position for action, a lever attached to the said spindle for moving it up and down, a spacing-bar and intervening connections for causing the said lever to be rocked by the normal operation of spacing and a replacing-spring which acts on the said lever in opposition to the said spacingbar substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with a type clcanin g brush and its supporting-arm, a lengthwisemovable spindle, to an attachment of which the said arm is pivoted, the said spindle being provided with a longitudinal slot a lengthwise motionless but rotatable sleeve which. surrounds the said spindle and has a radial stud that works in the said longitudinal slot, a ratchet-wheel carried by the said sleeve, a feeding arm or pawl engaging the teeth of the said ratchet-wheel, a lever to which the said arm is attached, a retraeting-sprin g acting on the said lever, a spaeingbar and intervening connections whereby the said lever is actuated by the said spacing-bar in the ordi nary operation of spacing substantially as set forth.

7. A type-cleaning brush and its support- ICC ing-arm in combination with a spindle arranged centrally with respect to the type-basket 011 an attachment of which the said arm is pivoted, devices for giving strokes of the said brush 011 the type individually successively and regularly and means connected to a moving part of the machine for rotating the said spindle and carrying the brush around the type-basket in a step-bystep motion sub stantially as set forth.

8. In a type-writer, a type-cleaner arranged within the type-basket, in combination with a support for the said type-cleaner, devices for revolving the latter around the type-basket in. a regular step-by-step motion and means for striking the said type-cleaner against and into the faces of the said type individually and successively while the said cleaner is traveling around the said type-basket substantially as set forth.

9. A type-cleaner and its supporting-arm in combination with a spindle on an attach.- ment of which the said arm is pivoted, devices for giving successive strokes of the said brush against and into the faces of the type individually and means for rotating the said spindle to cause the said type'cleaner to travel around the said type-basket while thus being may turn the said spindle by the action of the struck against the said type substantially as said pawl and ratchet thus carrying the brush set forth. from type to type around the type-basket in 10. A type-cleaning brush, in combination a step-by-step motion substantially as and 15 5 with its pivoted supporting-arm, devices for for the purpose set forth.

striking the said brush into the faces of the In testimony whereof I affix my signature I type, a spindle arranged vertically in line in presence of two witnesses.

with a point in the interior of the type-basket, Y FRED VAN FLEET. a ratchet-wheel on said spindle, and a pawl WVitnesses: 10 carried by a moving part of the machine in JOHN S. ELLIOTT,

- order that the latter in its normal operation H. FORREST CLAPP. 

